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Wild Winter Wheeling at Windrock OHV Area

Winter elicits different responses in different parts of the country. In some areas the 4x4s get put away when they start salting the roads, while others bust out their insulated Carhartts and goggles and wheel all through the winter. “We started going to Tellico in January years ago to avoid the crowds,” Keith Bailey says. And thus, Wild Winter Wheeling was born.

The combination of high horsepower and slick terrain led to some carnage, the most common of which was broken hubs. Fortunately plenty of spares were on hand and hubs are easy to swap out on the trail.

This is just an excuse to spend time with friends and have some fun

Tellico has since joined the troubling list of areas closed to off-road recreation, but that didn’t stop Bailey or his customers at Off Road Connection in Birmingham, Alabama, from getting together every winter. “Some years it is bigger, and some years it is smaller,” says Bailey. “Really, this is just an excuse to spend time with friends and have some fun.”

We tagged along this year when the group went to Windrock OHV Area in Oliver Springs, Tennessee. There was snow on the ground when we arrived, but that didn’t keep the crowds away. There were Jeeps, hill climbers, rock bouncers, and side-by-sides crawling over the miles of trails Windrock offers. Sloppy conditions meant that everyone was mashing the gas and stretching the rods in their engines in an attempt at forward progress.

Windrock Park Campground is adjacent to the trails and has tent spots, full hookups for RVs, and cabins for rent. You don’t even have to air up your tires to get home after a day of wheeling.

Next time the snow flies, don’t put your 4x4 away for the winter. Round up your friends and plan your own Wild Winter Wheeling.